Celtic vs Inverness Prediction: Celtic will run riot

This Saturday night at Hampden Park, Premiership champions Celtic will face off against Championship side Inverness in the 150th Scottish Cup final. The Hoops are going for their fifth domestic Treble in seven seasons, while Caley Thistle are trying to upset the odds and win their first trophy in eight years.

Celtic have become dominant again in Scottish football after going two years without a trophy under Neil Lennon, and they are looking to win their fifth trophy under Ange Postecoglou, who insists he is committed to his current position despite rumors of a summer transfer to Tottenham Hotspur. Under the guidance of the Aussie, the Hoops have won two consecutive Scottish Premiership titles and the Scottish League Cup this year, including a 2-1 victory over Old Firm rivals Rangers at Hampden Park in February. Celtic rightfully took their foot off the throttle for a short while earlier this month, resulting in a 1-2 home draw with St. Mirren and 3-0 and 4-2 losses to Rangers and Hibernian, respectively, in the Premiership. Before Saturday's final, though, the Hoops got back on track with a resounding 5-0 victory against Aberdeen in their penultimate league match, and they celebrated by hoisting the Premiership trophy in front of a magnificent mosaic-filled Parkhead crowd. Going into this contest, Celtic have won each of the last nine finals in the competition over the last two decades, and they have also won their last three meetings with Inverness by a combined score of 13-0.—

Since winning the Scottish Cup in 2014–15, Inverness has not played in a major final. They are the first team from outside the Premiership to reach the final of the competition in seven years. Although it will be difficult for Inverness to hand Celtic their first loss at Hampden Park since 2012, they did defeat the Hoops 3-2 in extra time on their way to winning the Scottish Cup eight years ago. This season, they have already eliminated two Premiership teams, beating Livingston 3-0 in the fifth round and Kilmarnock 2-1 in the quarterfinals. This season, Billy Dodds' squad has also beaten Stirling Albion, Queen's Park, and Falkirk to reach Saturday's duel with Celtic at Hampden Park. Since losing 2-1 to Ayr United at home in their final Scottish Championship match of the season on May 5, Inverness have had a four-week break from competitive activity. This loss cost them a spot in the playoffs, as they finished the season in sixth place, only two points behind the top four.

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Hart; Johnston, Kobayashi, Starfelt, Taylor; O'Riley, McGregor, Hatate; Maeda, Furuhashi, Jota

Inverness possible starting lineup:

Ridgers; Carson, Devine, Deas, Harper; Henderson, Allardice, Welsh, Mackay; Shaw; Mckay

Due to the fact that Celtic's first team players are scheduled to participate in this showdown, I think that they will completely dominate the competition. Despite the fact that I anticipate Inverness to be a formidable opponent in front of the net, I am looking forward to a game with a lot of goals scored.